Could (or Should) Darroll Powe Be Suspended?
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 12, 2010 10:59 PM EST
in Commentary
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PrintKnowing full well that a lot of you will disagree with me - hell, I'm disagreeing with my initial reaction - I ask whether Darroll Powe should be suspended for his hit on Jaroslav Spacek.
We can mostly agree that Spacek put himself in such a vulnerable position and is therefore at least partially responsible for the result. Still, simply typing that makes me a little uneasy. Blaming a guy for getting plastered against the boards is a bit callous.
In spite of that, I ask you to consider Patrick Kaleta's hit on Jared Ross earlier this year. There are obviously differences between the two hits, but take another look at Kaleta on Ross:
Kaleta received a two-game suspension for that hit. Now, the obvious difference is that Ross was stationary while Spacek was chasing down a puck. Clearly, Spacek was attempting to move the puck and then make a quick pivot to avoid the check he knew was coming. In such a situation, it's hard to fault a player for making a move many defensemen make.
With a forechecker bearing down, many defensemen move the puck and brace for a hit. Spacek did that. Was it the best way to do that? Almost certainly not. However, this is a very common play for defensemen. Maybe that means this hit is similar to Jeff Carter on Anssi Salmela; a good play with an unfortunate result. But look at the Ross hit again. Both forecheckers were attempting to separate the player from the puck, both were skating at full speed, and both resulted in a player's head smacking the glass.
Yes, Ross wasn't moving, but even the Flyers G.M. laid some of the blame on Ross:
"It’s a little bit of a tactic now, where players will turn toward the boards and draw a penalty," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "I don’t think Jared was trying to do that. But it’s certainly a dangerous area, and [the hit] is going to lead to a lot of discussion."
Now, I'm not saying Powe should be suspended based on intent, but if the NHL wants to protect their players and start showing consistency in doing that, they should. If Kaleta is suspended for a similar - though not exactly similar - hit, Powe should be too. But consistency is a word I'm not positive Colin Campbell knows.
UPDATE: Here's the only video I have been able to find since last night:
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Blaming a guy for getting plastered against the boards is a bit callous.
…Flyers fans would never do that…
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Feb 12, 2010 11:03 PM EST reply actions
haha, in our defense, we blamed our own guy for getting plastered against the boards. I even added it in the story!
But your point is very well taken.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 12, 2010 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
i thought it looked clean live, thought the hit was to the lower-middle back.
but on replay, the hit to the shoulder area / lower neck? that’s just dangerous. i don’t think turning the back is relevant with the location of the hit. if the hit was to the side, would easily ride up the shoulder and still drill the head into the boards. shouldn’t be a big suspension, i’m calling 2 games
Kaleta left his feet and threw his shoulder into Ross’ head.
Powe had no choice when the dude shifted and even did his best to avoid the hit by making contact with his chest rather than hands or shoulder.
It should be treated like an accidental high stick that draws blood: it’s a penalty because it happened, but it wasn’t intentional.
Kaleta left his feet and threw his shoulder into Ross’ head.
He did neither. He led with his shoulder into Ross’ back, and while his left skate left the ice, his right skate never did. That’s shifting weight, not leaving his feet. And his shoulder never came into contact with Ross’ head, it his him right in the nameplate.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 12, 2010 11:28 PM EST up reply actions
Rewatched on DVR.
Powe actually tapped Spacek with his stick to let him know he was there before Spacek made the cut. It actually looks like the stick tap was the reason Spacek cut back against his momentum.
He clearly tried to send the back around behind the net as he cut back. I hope someone gets him to discuss that.
But the stick tap makes it clear Powe wasn’t trying to run the guy. You don’t give a warning first if thats your intent.
And that I completely agree with you on. Powe had no intent to run the guy.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 12, 2010 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
The problem was, when Powe tapped Spacek on the right with his stick, Spacek turned left, which put him right in Powe’s way. It was unintentional, but Powe’s attempt to warn Spacek caused Spacek to put himself in a more dangerous position.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
To a point I made in the post-game thread.
That Buffalo play resulted in 5 and 10 to Kaleta, and 2 to Cote for roughing. And the ensuing play was 4-4 as you can see from Lindy Ruff in the video.
Yet, same situation tonight, is somehow a 5-4.
Tim Panaccio Disagrees
Link here
“That’s when normally in-control-of-himself Darroll Powe threw an elbow into the neck of Montreal’s Jaroslav Spacek behind the net, drawing a well-deserved boarding call and game misconduct.”
Threw an elbow did he? He makes it sound like it was intentional.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luuko
It was hard to tell in real time. The replay made it look suspendable due to Spacek’s location alone. Being at the game and all charged up in the atmosphere, it was hard to be objective about it as it was happening. But I knew something was up as soon as Spacek went down.
I’d say Mr. Powe will be out for two games. But you know what that means… Ville Leino Time.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Disney on Ice.
They should just ban hitting all together. I mean come on already can’t hit them if their near the boards or on the boards or god forbid hit them hard. There was nothing wrong with that hit but the NHL is looking to sissify the game to the point where its Disney on Ice to make it more family friendly.
Sounds like Slap Shot 2. In my opinion the worst sequel ever made
by SkookFlyerfan on Feb 13, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
To change the subject a little,
it is a little ironic that the Flyers now seem to have a problem playing with a lead…somewhat uncharted territory I guess. The last few games have seen them come out flat in the 3rd period, seemingly satisfied to have a lead and expecting to play it safe. It hasn’t burned them yet, but it will if they don’t change their attitude in the future. In any sport, once you let up, it is really hard to change back to being aggressive. I’m sure the coaches realize what’s happening. The question is how do you keep it from happening?
It did burn them late in January against the Thrashers.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
True, but I would imagine (hope?) the bigger lesson came from the Atlanta game since they lost. They managed to win the Carolina game.
On a totally unrelated note, I am happy to see Kim Johnsson going to a contender in the Blackhawks. Bully for him.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Randy Jones got suspended for the exact same thing, even though it was all Bergerons fault. I can’t picture this being a different result. Spacek turned his back on the play, knowing a guy was going to hit him. Its asinine, but thats the tough break for Powe(assuming he’ll get suspended).
"NO HONOR"
I have loved Lou Nolan since my I was a kid at the Spectrum.
Always enjoyed the deep toned LLLOOOEE whenever he shuffled across the ice 15 minutes before game time.
However he has to ged his head out of his ass.
Announcing a game misconduct just when a guy is getting up from getting injured is stupid.
Even if he begin the announcement, he could have stopped out of respect
Bad show Lou.
I was misinformed and mistaken. Fortunately Lou did not announce the penalties until after Spaecek got helped off the ice.
Having the refs usher Powe off caused the Booing
by Prometheus74 on Feb 13, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
Just uploaded a video, it’s the only one I could find
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 13, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Not that bad
If the NHL wants to change the way they call the game then fine, but that hit happens all the time and people are rarely hurt. Sending a message by making an example of Powe wouldn’t really be fair but if the NHL wants to take a firm stance and stick with it, I’d be fine. But they won’t.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
This league continually finds new and interesting ways to shoot itself in the foot. It breaks my heart.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
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